LAKEVILLE — A portion of trails at Massasoit State park have gotten a makeover, thanks to the work of Eagle Scout Aneil Barnick. Barnick is a sophomore at Apponequet Regional High School, who recently completed a project to revitalize the trails leading to the Historic Millsite at the park. 

According to Barnick, the trails were previously “unsafe” due to the deterioration of the wooden steps and because the trail was steep, rocky and eroded in various sections. His project focused on rebuilding the wooden steps leading from the parking lot to the millsite to allow for “improved accessibility and better water management which addresses erosion and safety,” said Barnick. 

He also focused his efforts on updating signage at the kiosk and providing more accurate historical information about the site in an aesthetic and “easy to read” format. 

“The project benefits many people,” such as visitors and the park’s historical guide, and “brings safety and beauty to this historic site and the surrounding area,” noted Barnick.

It also highlights the historical significance of the site in the relationship between the Wampanoag Tribe’s Chief, Massasoit, and early European settlers as well as its contributions to the American Revolution, he said.